{"title":"Pith Painting","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-torture-scene-caged-prisoner-jq-447","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting, Torture Scene: Caged Prisoner","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 19th-century chinese painting on pith Punishment \u0026amp; Torture Scene: Caged Prisoner.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA fascinating Chinese pith painting depicting a gruesome torture scene. One of twelve torture scenes that we have for sale, this subject held particular fascination for westerners in late Qing dynasty China. They could be direct witness to the Chinese judicial system, in the court or on the street, where torture was meted out as both an interrogration tool and as retributative punishment. A significant element of the retribution was humiliation and dishonour, and the punishments were therefore carried out as public spectacle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe apparent brutality of torture inevitably elicited macabre interest, but the rituals of punishment were also fascinating for what they revealed about wider societal structures and beliefs. Due to the populous nature of China, life was looked upon as a cheap commodity. Under Confucian thinking, beheading was the ultimate punishment because leaving behind an incomplete corpse was a great insult to the ancestors. China's large size also meant that Imperial government was decentralised and punishments were administered locally, where bribery and corruption played their part. Those doling out the torture—the policemen and exeutioners—were often iniquitous and criminally minded themselves. The punishers were, however, tempered by the fact that excessive harshness could be opposed by mob rule.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe skin areas of the image (faces and limbs) are painted on the verso of the pith, giving an enhanced sense three-dimensionality. With original blue border ribbon adhered around the edges of the pith.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52010768433481,"sku":"JQ-447","price":98.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/jq-447.jpg?v=1743409936"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-blind-musician-jx-990","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Blind Musician","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 19th-century Chinese painting on pith, Qing Dynasty Blind Musician.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant watercolour on pith showing a blind Chinese Qing Dynasty woman.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose, not laid down on any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52018316443977,"sku":"JX-990","price":58.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/jx-990.jpg?v=1743505160"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-imperial-bodyguard-jx-991","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Imperial Bodyguard","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 19th-century Chinese painting on pith, Qing Dynasty Imperial Bodyguard.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant watercolour on pith, with fine detail to the costume and face.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose, not laid down on any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52018316706121,"sku":"JX-991","price":48.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/jx-991.jpg?v=1743505164"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-paintingparadise-bird-on-orange-flower-branch-kb-482","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting–Paradise Bird on Orange Flower Branch","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 19th-century Chinese painting on pith Chinese Paradise Flycatcher Bird on Orange Flowering Branch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a trio that we have for sale (see stock numbers KB-482 to KB-484).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52021457027401,"sku":"KB-482","price":31.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kb-482.jpg?v=1743520751"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-pair-of-chinese-geese-kb-486","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Pair of Chinese Geese","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 19th-century Chinese painting on pith Pair of Chinese Geese.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful Chinese painting in watercolour on pith. The details on the birds, flowers and leaves are exquisitely painted. In traditional Chinese art a pair of birds represent a happy marriage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a number of Chinese bird paintings on pith that we have for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52021460336969,"sku":"KB-486","price":180.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kb-486.jpg?v=1743520759"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-with-fan-kc-561","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women with Fan","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women with Fan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948561494345,"sku":"KC-561","price":21.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-561.jpg?v=1757941651"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-kc-560","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948562051401,"sku":"KC-560","price":26.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-560.jpg?v=1757941652"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-kc-563","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948562542921,"sku":"KC-563","price":26.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-563.jpg?v=1757941656"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-with-flowers-kc-565","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting –Qing Dynasty Women with Flowers","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women with Flower Basket.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948562575689,"sku":"KC-565","price":26.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-565.jpg?v=1757941656"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-with-fan-flower-kc-564","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting –Qing Dynasty Women with Fan \u0026 Flower","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women with Fan \u0026amp; Flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948562772297,"sku":"KC-564","price":21.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-564.jpg?v=1757941659"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-kc-568","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948564017481,"sku":"KC-568","price":24.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-568.jpg?v=1757941664"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-kc-562","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948564181321,"sku":"KC-562","price":26.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-562.jpg?v=1757941668"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-kc-569","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948564345161,"sku":"KC-569","price":18.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-569.jpg?v=1757941673"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-camellia-iris-flowers-with-butterfly-insect-original-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-334","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Camellia \u0026 Iris Flowers with Butterfly \u0026 Insect","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Camellia \u0026amp; Iris Flowers with Butterfly \u0026amp; Insect.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful 19th-century Chinese painting on pith, with fine detail to the petals, leaves and insects.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on original album page backing paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvenance: from an album of works connected to Alice (1838–1860) and Mina Morton (1829–1880), daughters of the Irish missionary in India, William Morton.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54050477015369,"sku":"KD-334","price":148.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-334.jpg?v=1773922604"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-monarch-butterfly-on-yellow-chrysanthemum-flowers-original-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-331","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Monarch Butterfly on Yellow Chrysanthemum Flowers","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Monarch Butterfly on Yellow Chrysanthemum Flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful 19th-century Chinese painting on pith, with fine detail to the petals, leaves and insects.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on original album page backing paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvenance: from an English album dating from around 1829.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54050477277513,"sku":"KD-331","price":180.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-331.jpg?v=1773922616"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-orange-lily-flower-with-beetle-insect-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-577","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Orange Lily Flower with Beetle Insect – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Orange Lily Flower with Beetle Insect.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541774324041,"sku":"KD-577","price":36.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-577.jpg?v=1780569882"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-quince-fruit-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-572","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Quince Fruit – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Quince Fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541776322889,"sku":"KD-572","price":38.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-572.jpg?v=1780569922"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-loquat-fruit-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-571","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Loquat Fruit – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Loquat Fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541792870729,"sku":"KD-571","price":52.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-571.jpg?v=1780570138"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-pomelo-fruit-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-573","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Pomelo Fruit – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Pomelo Fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541793329481,"sku":"KD-573","price":52.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-573.jpg?v=1780570150"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-mandarin-orange-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-574","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Mandarin Orange – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Mandarin Orange.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541798244681,"sku":"KD-574","price":78.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-574.jpg?v=1780570269"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-grouper-fish-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-580","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Grouper Fish – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Grouper Fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541798965577,"sku":"KD-580","price":98.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-580.jpg?v=1780570298"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-silver-carp-fish-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-581","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Silver Carp Fish – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Silver Carp Fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in iridescent paint on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541799424329,"sku":"KD-581","price":98.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-581.jpg?v=1780570310"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-prisoner-his-captors-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-584","title":"Chinese School, Prisoner \u0026 His Captors – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Prisoner \u0026amp; His Captors.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn interesting Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541805420873,"sku":"KD-584","price":110.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-584.jpg?v=1780570362"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/collections\/M5-a-JM-767.jpg?v=1742291850","url":"https:\/\/somersetandwood.com\/de\/collections\/pith-painting.oembed","provider":"Somerset \u0026 Wood Fine Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}